I’d like you to take some time in prayer and ponder and pray about the following;

Where in your life are you asserting your individual freedom and rights where they are in conflict with the greater good?

Where can you reduce what you feel you need, 

To make space for the betterment of the whole?

Thank you for taking that to God in prayer this week. 

Yet despite everything,

No matter what, 

no matter that the earthly things 

we rely on in hard times disappoint us,

Still God loves us, 

and that is what really matters.

In this story of magi and gifts,

it all comes down to these two questions, I believe:

Can we point to the true source of Life, Emmanuel, when we are asked?

Can we bring our selves, truly and wholly, as Gifts to this Emmanuel?

No more can be asked of us, as followers of Christ: 

but to reflect Christ’s light as best as we can.

The very first Radio broadcast of the Golden Hour occurred on the 23rd of February, 1930. 

The sermon on that Sunday, by Pastor John Schmieder (who had been already pastor at St. Matthews for almost12 years) was on the parable of the sower and the seed.

In the introduction to the sermon, 

Schmieder mentioned that now the seed of God’s word would not only be sown to the gathered assembly in the pews, 

but far beyond the quote “fenced-in field” of the congregation. 

He expressed the hope that this Word, transmitted by the airwaves, 

would bear fruit wherever a lonely, sick, and hurting human heart was ready to receive it.” 

Sometimes we're just like an ox or a donkey.

Sometimes all we can do is just watch with admiration and astonishment,

And shut down our super-ego, and adopt a posture of humility

and follow our instincts to the manger,

because all philosophy and rationalizations are of no use

in the face of the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Christmas Eve

That night the shepherds were wistful.  

Under the night sky, the shepherds lay beside their flock of sheep.   On the cooler nights, they kept warm this way, nestled among the sheep, the bleating hushed.   Sheep know the voice of a good shepherd - who lays down beside them.   A welcomed calm blanketed them. The...

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father,  

and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mary went with haste to a town in the hill country

to visit her aunt Elizabeth.

Well actually we don’t Elizabeth was Mary’s aunt,

we just know she was a relative,

but Elizabeth was really old,  

and her having a baby was a miracle,

so she...

In this Advent season leading to Christmas,

Probably most of us are feeling at best a cautious joy.

It’s maybe kind of like how we’re singing in worship,

We’re not singing much or full out, we’re masked, 

and we’re not really in the mood.

Almost 40 years ago, a film deemed by an ABC poll to be the 5th greatest film of all time, appeared on screens in movie theatres worldwide. The movie, by director Steven Spielberg, was E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial.

Some of you might have even seen it.

“The author of the novel on which the screenplay was based has indicated that she intended...

25th Sunday after Pentecost

Hebrews 10: 11-25

During my seminary time, a beautiful quilt made by Lutheran church ladies was given to each graduating student.   On the day they were gifted, the quilts were draped in the seminary chapel.   The students walked around admiring the work.   I identified my favourite. It was boldly...